WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced that the Senate approved the Fiscal Year 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Bill which includes $9.25 million for important Hawaii transportation initiatives. The Fiscal Year 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes funding for the: Department of Transportation; Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary, and Related Agencies; Department of the Interior and Related Agencies; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies; Department of Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government; Department of Agriculture; District of Columbia; and Foreign Operations.

Funding for the Department of Transportation includes $3 million for the Ewa-Honolulu corridor study on the Island of Oahu. The City and County of Honolulu will conduct this study to evaluate mobility alternatives for Honolulu's primary urban corridor from Ewa to East Honolulu. The study will focus on the development and implementation of alternatives to increase the mobility capacity in the primary corridor. In addition, Senator Inouye successfully secured $1 million in the Fiscal Year 1998 Supplemental Appropriations bill for this study.

"This study will focus on the development of alternatives to increase the mobility capacity in this primary corridor. The Ewa to East Honolulu urban corridor is the site of a critical rush-hour traffic backlog. More than 600,000 people are expected to utilize this corridor on a daily basis within the next ten years. We need to determine cost-effective alternative modes of transportation to accommodate this demand. I look forward to working with the State of Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu to resolve this problem," Senator Inouye stated.

In addition, the Senate approved $10.4 million in funds authorized in the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century for ferry projects to be shared by Hawaii and Alaska.

"The marine ferry system of the United States provides an invaluable component to the transportation requirements of our nation. Because Hawaii is an island state, I believe the viability of passenger/vehicle ferry services should be fully pursued. Marine ferries are less costly than highways, bridges and tunnels. In coastal urban centers, marine ferry service can provide cost-effective, environmentally friendly transportation to areas suffering from congestion. The State has conducted a thorough review of the feasibility of initiating such services and is prepared to issue a request for proposals that would allow for the demonstration of the latest technology in ferry service. I believe that high-speed marine ferry services can be a cost-effective alternative to help alleviate much of urban Oahu's traffic problems," stated Senator Inouye.

Senator Inouye also secured $3 million for highway improvements associated with Hanalei Wildlife Refuge on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, and Haleakala National Park on the Island of Maui.

Further, $3.25 million was approved for the City and County of Honolulu to purchase additional buses and to construct a new bus maintenance facility under the Federal Transit Administration's Bus and Bus Related Facilities Discretionary Program.

In addition, the Committee included sufficient funding to maintain the Essential Air Service (EAS) program at current service levels and quality of service at the communities currently serviced. Kamuela on the Island of Hawaii, currently receives EAS funds.

The Fiscal Year 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Bill will now be transmitted to the White House.